Preventing Needlestick and Sharps Injuries
Over 8 million healthcare workers in the United States are employed in hospitals and other healthcare settings, where needlestick injuries are a common occupational hazard. Some of these injuries may expose staff to bloodborne pathogens, increasing the risk of infection.
This course focuses on strategies that healthcare workers can use to prevent needlestick and sharps injuries.
Course Objectives
By the end of this course, participants should be able to:
| ID | Objective |
|---|---|
| TO 1.0 | Achieve a minimum score of 70% on the final course assessment. |
| LO 1.1.1 | Explain employer requirements under the federal Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act of 2000. |
| LO 1.1.2 | Describe Exposure Control Plan (ECP) requirements related to sharps and needlesticks. |
| LO 1.1.3 | Identify high-risk activities involving sharps in healthcare settings. |
| LO 1.1.4 | List types of sharps safety devices and explain the selection process. |
| LO 1.1.5 | Describe methods to control sharps hazards using the Hierarchy of Controls. |
| LO 1.1.6 | Discuss management and employee best practices for safely working with sharps. |
Key: TO = Terminal Objective | LO = Learning Objective